As a small town doctor in Alaska for the past 25 years, I have witnessed many changes to the health care system. We have had to weather many storms and at times health care funding and access can be a very uphill battle for Southeast residents. One champion of health care has been Rep. Dan Ortiz.

Under Gov. Bill Walker, Ortiz voted to support Medicaid expansion in the state. This allowed previously uninsured patients access to basic primary and preventive care. As well, patients were able to receive lifesaving treatments that were previously too expensive for the uninsured. It has been proj...